On April 5, 2013, USCIS closed FY 2014 H-1B filings after receipt of approximately 124,000 petitions. USCIS conducted a lottery process to determine the 20,000 U.S. Master Degree and 65,000 general category H-1Bs to be accepted and processed. The petitions not selected will be returned with filing fees, and employers must wait until April 2014 or implementation of immigration reform to file new H-1B visa petitions. Receipt notices for accepted petitions and returned packages will likely arrive the week of April 15, 2013.

This H-1B cap limitation does not apply to extensions of H-1B status or those obtaining H-1B status to teach at colleges, universities, related nonprofit or government research organizations or J waiver physicians. There may be limited options for individuals not selected for the H-1B cap depending on the applicants' situations. Please contact us to discuss options.

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

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